The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-16
The "Rcgister'' is Considerably over
Half Right.
ooy,,
NoIUnbifI PPDiyier,


To make the Democratic party in the State
strong and to maintain It's unity and It's hold
upon the public confidence, 1t Is W iso 10 heed
all the points Of complaint made by any OF
its members. We notice that such able and
Independent Journals. rs for instance the
b6epille Press and Banner and the keoUec
Courier, have called attention 10 certain evils
that they complain OF, and other Democrailc
Journals have filed bills Of complaint. We
desire to indicate briefly how far we agree
and how far we disagree on the points that
have been discussed.
In the first place, W do not hesitate to dis
sent strongly from the views Of those who
have impugned the official conduct OF our
State officers. South Carolina has never had
q more honest and Il more economical corps
!. officers than now. We believe with no reR'
son to flattcr or to cXaggerate that the State
may lie congratulated upon the purity of lis
judicial. Executive and Legislative depart
mentS Of government.
That there are evils existing in the admin
Istraion Of our publ lc affairs, we admit, but
all these evils can be and ought TO be rem.
cdied within the lines of the Democratic par
ty. We hold that the entire county system OIL
government Is too cumbersome and Is Mn'
necessarily expensive. Reform that. we
hold that the court or legal charges, especial
ly in the office of Master in Equity. are cX'
cessive-and that the fees and costs In wind
ing up estates, large and small, are extraya;
Justice system is elnlnently deiectiye In its
operation. Reform that. AS to the Railroad
Commissioners, we hold that Oil but one
might be dispensed with. Reform that.
When, however, we come to the prOpoSition
that the salaries of the State officials should
be reduced, we declare against any reduction.
This we do for reasons which are conclusive
with us. The object Of every government is
to secure efficient service. TO do 30, the gov
ernment must command good material. 10
secure good material. good pay, liberal com
pcnSstiUn must be allowed. This proposition
holds good In the management OF private eh'
terpriSes and Is no less true In the manage
ment of public business. The government
must command men Of character, men OF
efficient qualities, mcn Of just pride and am
bition, but 10 get such men, ordinary induce
mcntS, to say the least, must be offered 70
secure their services. Another reason. we
hold that it is good, sound Democratic doc
trine to pay liberal salaries 1t Is otherwise
to pay small ones. The liberal policy opens
the offices Of the State to u meritorious class
Of men who, though poor, arc OF high and
efficient character. Hence, In III Is way, you
pave the way for the less favored clement nE
TO fortunes in the Slate. On the contrary,
make the salaries small. and you either get
men Of little account, or your efices may 1nli
into the hands of the rich-men with only
one faculty, that OF money ma aklng-who are
able TO get on with their outside resources.
Hence to sum up. Reform our county sys-
tem-our court charges-our Trial Justice sys-
tem-our number of Railroad Commissions
ers. But leave the salary question as IL Is.